Freezing D2O clay gels

To obtain the T1 surface value in smectites/D2O diluted suspensions or gels, as was obtained on a monolayer deuterated clay, we freeze them. The broad Pake’s doublets similar to ice doublets and with the same T1 show that we can separate frozen from unfrozen D2O. The latter exhibits a narrower line and a single T1 and is attributed to the liquid surface water layer in rapid exchange with the nearby supercooled water, the quantity of which diminishes with the lowering of the temperature depending on the gel porosity. It is possible to measure the supercooled water quantity and to correct the T1 measured values to extract the T1 surface. The value extrapolated at room temperature allows the complete clay surface area measurement. The example of a montmorillonite is given and a comparison with laponite is made.